Riveting device



March 20, 1934. E J v s 1,951,839

RIVETING DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1932 INVENTOR Z777!!! 2 11 6115 %;MA W

ATTORNEY 5 Patented Mar. 20, 1934 RIVETING DEVICE Elmer J. Rivers,Farmingdalc, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Curtiss Aeroplane85 Motor Company, Inc.

Application February 15, 1932, Serial No. 592,958

1 Claim.

This invention relates in general to riveting devices and moreparticularly to one which may be suitable for applying rivets to tubularmembers to effect a fastening thereof.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a device that willsqueeze hollow rivets after they have been inserted through two or moretubular members desired to be connected without causing any damage tothe tubular members themselves.

It is a further object to provide such a device that will make for readyalignment of the squeezing elements with the rivet so as to insure easeand speed of operation.

It is a further object to provide such a device that will allow foroperation by outside mechanical devices such as air hammers, by whichthe pressure may be applied to the squeezing element without the usualmanual effort.

It is a still further object to dampen the pressure of the hammersqueezing element within its predetermined limits of movement so as tominimize the likelihood of breakage of the rivets themselves during thesqueezing process.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterset forth in the following specification and appended claim, certainembodiments thereof being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation partly in section of the rivetingdevice with the tubular elements and rivet in place prior to thesqueezing of the rivet;

Figure 2 is a detail view similar to Figure 1, showing a portion of thatshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the position of theelements during the rivet squeezing operation;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the device consists of aheavy casting with a base 1, a body 2 and an upright 3, the latter beingbored at 3' to slidably receive a compound sliding plunger. This plungermay consist 'of a bar of such dimensions that its lower part 4 willslide in the bore 3'. The upper part 4 may be of the same or any size orshape, the two portions being separated by spaced circular flanges 5 and'6. Flange 5 constitutes a stop for limiting the downward movement ofthe bar which is effected when flange 5 strikes the base 3, and flange 6provides a convenient means for keeping the flange 5 unseated from thetop of the upright 3 through the action of a suitable spring which isattached to the support 2 so as to force the plunger upwardly byexerting an upward force on flange 6, one end of the spring 7 beingarranged around the plunger 4' between the flanges 5 and 6 such as shownat 7. Flange 5 may either be integral or otherwise secured so as to makeit adjustable.

Either integral with bar 4 or adjustable in relation thereto is secureda bar 8 of smaller diameter which has either integral therewith ordetachably secured thereto a tip with a concave surface 9 and acentrally disposed tit 10. Surrounding the bar 8 is a sleeve 11, oneside of which is recessed at 12 to receive a pin 13 carried by the bar 8so as to limit the downwardmovement of the sleeve with relation to thebar. A compression coil spring 1% is arranged around the bar 8 andbetween the bar 4 and the sleeve 11, tending to force the latterdownward against 15 the stop pin 13.

On the base 1 is detachably secured a button 15 which may have acentrally disposed tit 16. At 1'7 there is represented a tubular membersuch as a diagonal airplane wing rib bracing element, while at 19 thereis represented another tubular member such as a rib frame chord memberto which it is desired to'secure the diagonal member 17. To do this thelatter is split at 18 and the two divided ends 17 flattened out. Theframe chord 19 is then placed between these two ends after the ends andthe frame chord have had holes punched through to receive the rivet.When these holes are aligned the rivet 20, which is hollow, is passedthrough and the assembly is then placed on the base so that the lowerend of the rivet rests on the button 15 with the tit extending slightlyinto the hollow barrel of the rivet. The distance between the two tits10 and 16 should be so gauged that when the tubes are placed on thebutton the upper tit should be in such relationship to the rivet thatthe flange 5 will stop any downward movement of the plunger assemblyfurther than that needed to squeeze the rivet so that no pressure willbe transmitted to the tubes which would cause damage thereto. The spring7 by its upward pressure on flange 6 merely holds the plunger up out ofthe way so: that the tubes may be readily inserted for riveting.Pressure may be applied to the plunger assembly in any suitable mannerbut by the special nature of the device it has been found feasible anddesirable to use an air hammer of the conventional type. There isrepresented at 21 a socket carried by a base 22 which leads to a sourceof air pressure. This socket may be merely slipped on the bar 4 wheneverit is desired to squeeze the rivet. The rivet is preferably of the typehaving two Wall thicknesses, the thinner wall thickness being at theupper end of the rivet and having an extent substantially equal to thatportion of the rivet which protrudes upwardly past the upper flattenedtubular end 17' of member 17.

The entire arrangement makes for simplicity and speed of operation. Thesleeve serves as a guide for the squeezing tit and the latter serves asa guide for the plunger which carries it. The sleeve itself is cushionedby the spring so that any contact of the sleeve with the tubes will notcause any damage to the latter as the flange 5 stops the plunger beforethe spring can be fully compressed. The sleeve surrounds the rivet headand the plunger and plunger tit cause the even distribution of thesqueezing action on the rivet.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A riveting machine comprising a stationary frame, an assembly mountedfor vertical reciprocation in said frame, said assembly comprising avertically movable plunger having a reduced lower end upon which asleeve is slidably mounted, said sleeve being urged downwardly by springmeans between the sleeve and the upper, larger end of the plunger into aposition in which the sleeve normally engages stop means, a flange onthe upper end of the plunger adapted to engage the topmost surface ofthe frame to limit the extent of the downward movement of the plunger,and resilient means acting normally to lift the flange out of engagementwith the frame.

ELMER J. RIVERS.

